Technion students presented an original use for desalination waste at the Venice Biennale
Under the guidance of architects Michal Bleicher and Dan Price, the students developed an innovative approach to using salt waste as a sustainable building material
During the 2025 Venice Biennale, the Technion delegation was one of just ten groups selected from 34 academic institutions worldwide. The Technion project was developed as part of the “Studio 1:1” under the guidance of architects Michal Bleicher and Dan Price from the Faculty of Architecture and Town Planning. The project was presented at a special conference held in Venice titled “Designing Change — The Shape of Transformation.” At the heart of the project lies a novel idea — using salt, a waste product of the Dead Sea phosphate extraction and sea water desalination processes, as a sustainable construction material. In close collaboration with Prof. Danny Mandler of the Hebrew University, the students transformed this concept into a tangible building block with real-world potential.
“During an intensive week at the Venice Biennale,” said Bleicher, “the students worked side by side with peers from around the world to develop innovative projects that laid the groundwork for future collaboration between universities. It was an empowering experience of creativity, innovation, and cross-cultural cooperation.”
Participating students were Aviv Sha’ir, Ariel Agabli, Guy Goldman, Carla Shorrosh, Kylie Adel, Noga Rothem Nachmias, Aden Hbeish, Saar Aharon, Safa Kherbawi, Sofi Shoken, Shani Tzoref, Sharon Hofsink, Tair Shekel, and Tamar Eli Friedman.
Click here to watch a video describing the project
